After Satan launched his initial salvo against Job, he appeared before God once again. God, knowing his intentions, rebuked him this way in Job 2:3 (LSB) - “Have you set your heart upon My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity. So you incited Me against him to swallow him up in vain.”

If you compare this description to Job 1:8 - the first time Satan appeared before God - there is a key difference. The end of the summation speaks of Job clinging to something - his integrity. This instance is the first use of the term “integrity” in the Old Testament and it would do us well to slow down a bit to focus on it.

That term in Hebrew - תֻּמָּה -transliterates into English as “tummâh” and is a rare word. It is used 5 times in the Old Testament, with four of them being in Job and once in Proverbs to describe the upright man. Here are the uses in Job:

• 2:3 - God uses the term to reference Job’s activity despite how Satan has mistreated him.

• 2:9 - Job’s wife rebukes him for continuing to cling to integrity and, instead, encourages him to curse God and die.

• 27:5 - Job, in his defense against Bildad who argues man cannot be right before God, mentions that he will not let go of his integrity. He will hold it until he dies.

• 31:6 - In his last defense against his so-called friends, Job declares his innocence and says that God can justly see his heart (something man cannot) and knows he lives with integrity.

While that sounds like great, trivial information, we have to ask and answer this question - so what? Why does it matter? Simply stated, the term “integrity” is uniquely associated with one man in the Bible - Job! We should then study this man to learn more about him, what integrity means, and how to apply in our daily lives.

In usage, the Hebrew term literally means “innocence” and is based upon a root word that implies wholeness, completeness, and fullness. Collectively, those definitions speak to the entirety of the person - every facet of you (and me) is aligned with a commitment and devotion to follow God and that we are innocent of harboring evil in our lives. If there is any misalignment, then we are not living in, acting out of, or preserving integrity. Let that sink in - God described Job as wholly committed to Him and Him alone before Satan, who is the accuser. What a testimony this man had!!!

Here are a few lessons we can learn:

1. Integrity is before God first and is then noticed by others. Who we are in private, that only God can see, is who we really are. People around us may think they know us, but we hide things from them all the time. We are fully open before God, so our integrity (or lack thereof) is well known by God.

2. Individuals - even those close to us - will, at times, challenge our integrity and those challenges can be vicious and prolonged. We can see how Job’s wife, due to her pain of loss, struck out at him in rebuke. His friends came to sympathize with him but then turned against him trying to root out his wrongs. Without a doubt, this added to his stress and sorrow, but he would not give up his integrity by striking back at them in malice.

3. When our integrity is challenged, remember that we serve an audience of One - God! Job’s consistent responses are telling for us. He was frustrated as their help ended up being hurtful, but he continually pointed back to God, kept his eyes on heaven, and stayed the course.

In conclusion, we all have daily choices that can either preserve or ruin our integrity before God and men. It is an intensely personal choice - often in private moments - that will be revealed in public actions. For this reason, we need to stay in God’s Word, learn more about Him every day, and then intently choose to be more like Him.

In our leadership series looking at Hebrew kings, we have now reached our 5th installment.  Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, had everything ready-made for a great reign.  His grandfather brought unity to the kingdom and peace by conquering their enemies.  His father oversaw tremendous prosperity as nations traded with Israel and he built the Temple where God would be worshipped.  Success was in his future - or was it?

If you are reading in the Bible, go ahead and turn to 1 Kings 12 or 2 Chronicles 12 to see what happens.  

With the period of mourning for Solomon completed, the nation assembled around the 41-year-old Rehoboam to anoint him as king.  If you stop and think about it, he spent his whole life waiting for this moment.  You can almost imagine the smile he had on his face and, surely, many so-called "friends" would have already been circling him for favors.  He would have received some advice from his father (possibly from the book Ecclesiastes) while also following the requirements of the law - writing a copy of the law by his own hand.  The ornate ceremony began.  

It was at this point, however, that the unexpected happened.

Instead of an immediate coronation, a dramatic shift occurred.  We do not know how - maybe he was about to emerge in public with his stately garb when he was stopped - but what we do know is that some people wanted a conversation with the king to be.  What must have been going through Rehoboam's mind?  He was royalty - a son of David.  He was the former king's son making him the rightful ruler whose time had come.  He was supposed to make requests that others fulfilled - not having demands brought before him.  

He consented to the meeting and, without a doubt, the next event caused his blood to boil as he seethed with anger.  Emerging from the shadows was a man named Jeroboam who was with the representatives of Israel.  You need to back up to 1 Kings 11 to see why this man would have tormented the soon-to-be king.  Jeroboam was a capable leader for Solomon and was placed in charge of the laborers from two tribes.  In returning home one day, a prophet met him and shared that God would use him to punish the house of David because of Solomon's sin.  In short, the kingdom would be divided with him leading 10 tribes. If he chose to follow God, then he would be blessed with an enduring dynasty.  When word reached Solomon of this prophecy, he ordered the death of Jeroboam (similar to how Saul acted with David's anointing); so Jeroboam fled to Egypt.

Jeroboam became a spokesman for Israel and stated their case:  (1) statement of fact that Solomon had been hard on the people in both labor and taxes, (2) pledge of complete loyalty to Rehoboam if he would lighten the burden.  You can imagine that Rehoboam needed some time to recover from the emotional letdown of a delayed coronation and the sudden appearance of an enemy.  He asked for three days and it was given.

Rehoboam assembled his counselors to gauge their opinion.  The older counselors urged him to add value to the people by listening to them and granting their wishes.  In a sense, they agreed with their statement of fact and focused on their commitment to follow him as their king.  The younger counselors, who grew up with the son of Solomon, disagreed.  They advised Rehoboam to add more value to himself because he was the king that they must obey.  Any capitulation here would be a sign of weakness, so they wanted him to respond with power.

At the end of three days, everyone assembled and was ready to make Rehoboam king.  He announced his decision that he would not be as hard as his father - he would, in fact, be harder.  When the shock of this statement wore off, the 10 northern tribes rejected him as their king, announced Jeroboam would be their ruler, and then turned to leave.  Rehoboam did not believe this to be the case and send his administer of labor to visit with them and these tribes responded by killing him.  Now, the full revolt was complete and the kingdom was divided.

What we can take away from this story for our lives and leadership?  I think we have 4 lessons here:
​

1. Compliance does not mean loyalty - yes, Israel was united as a nation under Solomon as king; however, their actions later showed their faithfulness was weak.  People may be compliant but that does not mean they are committed to you.  As a leader, time must be taken to stop and assess where your folks stand with their loyalty for the future.  

2. The hard truths are the most important truths - Rehoboam did not want to hear what the older counselors had to say.  Being familiar with the younger advisors, he may have believed these older men were relics and old-fashioned.  What they told him, though, was wise and right.  He rejected them because he did not want to listen.  He wanted his way and his truth to be the only way, and it cost him the majority of his kingdom.  Be unlike this king and keep a willingness to listen!

3. You cannot lead others without first loving them - the issue was Rehoboam's love.  He was more passionate about his position and privileges and prosperity than he was about his people.  He really did not care for them at all.  He expected them to sacrifice for him but he would never sacrifice for them.  If you act this way with your teams, then you will get a similar result in that people will not stay for long.  

4. If it is all about me, then a leader I cannot be - the final lesson is rooted in his selfishness and pride.  Both aspects got in the way - just like it does with us.  At some point, you MUST look in the mirror and ask why you are leading others.  If it is merely for the company or for your reputation, then you are failing as a leader.  If it is to add value to them, then you are leading.  He failed to listen and it cost him significant influence.

We all have daily choices that can either unite or divide and force compliance or build loyalty.  Want to know which one you are doing?  Go ask one of your biggest supports and one of your biggest detractors and then listen to the hard truths they share...

So far in our Hebrew king series, we've covered three kings and are now backing up to get one that we missed.  Presently, these are the kings that we have discussed:

• Saul the Initiator (the first king who set up many protocols that other would follow); 

• Ishbosheth the Figurehead (the second king who was set up as Saul's son but he did not lead for long); and

• Solomon the Thinker (the son of David who, initially, desired wisdom more than anything else).

If you know Biblical history, then you can spot the king that we missed - David.  This blog will look at the man as how we focused on building others in life and leadership.  To learn more, continue reading on...

When you hear the name "King David,"  what comes to mind?  Stop reading and start making a list of things that come to mind.  Then, let's do a quick comparison to see what we have in common:

• Served as a shepherd - learning how to lead and fight

• Overlooked when compared to his brothers 

• Known as a "man after God's own heart"

• Played a musical instrument and worked for the king to help alleviate his depression

• Fighter and survivor showed by the defeat of Goliath, running from Saul, and war with the Philistines

• Acted as a loyal friend - see that with Saul's son Jonathan and how David looked after a crippled member of Saul's family

You could absolutely consider David a political, personal, and professional success.  He did conquer the kings around Israel and brought peace to the land.  He was granted the Davidic covenant by God meaning that the Messiah and future King of Kings would be part of his dynasty.  With these wonderful successes, David also experienced catastrophic failures.  He was an adulterer with Bathsheba, a murderer by having Urijah killed to cover the adultery, and a boaster in numbering the people to see all that he accomplished.  In each sin, David's choices cost other people dearly.  This example is a life lesson for us - while you make a bad choice, you do not get to choose its consequence.

David, in being crowned king, needed to unite the nation.  We can trace what he did in 2 Samuel 2, 3, and 4 where Saul's last remaining son had a short reign as I mention in this blog entry.  David then forged alliances because of his tremendous reputation and his armies in battle (see 2 Samuel 5 for a description of Hiram the King of Tyre).  With battles being won and nations leaving Israel alone, he wanted to create a place for God - the Temple - to make it central for all of Israel (see 2 Samuel 7).  

The most important part of David as an example about being a "Builder" in both life and leadership takes us to the book of Psalms.  He authored the longest book of the Bible that includes the longest chapter of the Bible.  These "poems of praise" are a treasure trove of information for us in that they reveal the gold that can be unearthed by thinking time.  David pondered the wonder of the world and then wrote about it (something we should also do).  David took his experience and evaluated it so that he could learn (ahem...something we should also do).  David even recorded his confessions and how they led to personal change.  The Psalms is an intensely personal book - a glimpse into his heart and mind - that really shows us who he was as a person.  It is clear that how he lead came from how he lived.

David, as a Builder, teaches us 3 important lessons:

1. God is in every moment of life - if you are looking for Him.  Please make sure you read that statement carefully.  Those words are NOT saying that God is in everything, which is pantheism, but they do reveal how frequently we miss God at work because we are "too busy" to slow down.  When an unexpected blessing comes, God is there.  When difficulty hits us hard, God is there.  When we are suffering the consequences of our poor decisions, God is there.  The key is that we have to look for Him and His presence.  Grab your Bible and go to Psalm 104.  Take note of all the natural elements that David mentions - grass growing for livestock, trees being watered, the cycle of the sun and moon, and even the depths of the sea.  These comments are not mere words on a page but are ponderings of his heart.  David was looking at each of these circumstances and noting how God was involved in them.  He begins and ends this psalm with "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"  How could he say that?  Because he intentionally looked for God in every facet of life.  What he discovered caused him to worship the greatness, splendor, and majesty of the Lord.  The question for you is an easy one:  did you, in our world, see God today?  

2. Your plan may not meet His purpose.  David and his desire to build the Temple has taught us this lesson clearly, yet, he writes about it in his "poems of praise."  Look up Psalm 33:11 to see that God's plans stand firm and His purposes stem from His heart.  That one verse shows us that our plans are completely like His - ours change regularly because we are not established as He is.  Flip over to Psalm 32:8 as this gives us comfort and encouragement that God will instruct, teach, and counsel us in the right way.  In other words, when our plans conflict with God's, we need to bend our desires and passions to His purpose.  One of the best "church signs" I've ever seen said this - make your plans in pencil and give God the eraser.  There are so many other verses that we could consider but we do not have the time to do so.  Those that follow are just a short list of some others in Psalms that speak about God's purpose:  Psalm 37:23-24, Psalm 138:8, Psalm 139:16.

3. Living your learned lessons leads to a lasting legacy.  This may be the culminating lesson of David, but it cannot be separated completely from the prior two.  David's poems or songs are filled with Him seeing God everywhere in life just as much as they are filled with him seeing God's plan revealed.  Where David offers us a shining example is within the actual thought process and writing.  He put his faults and failures out there for the world to see within what some call the "psalms of confession."  If you want to read them, here they are:  Psalm 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, and 143.  Let's briefly focus on the last one in that list as David opens Psalm 143 begging for the Lord to hear him.  He then reflects on all that God has done in the past (see #1 above) and turns to his choice of trusting in God's purpose and plan (see #2 above).  David has learned to seek God in every aspect of life and, as such, can see God in every aspect of life.  

As a person and leader, how are you building others?  I'm not just talking about the here and now but want you to think long-term.  How are you going to leave a lasting legacy?  The answer is astoundingly simple - writing.  Purchase a journal and write so that your spouse or children will have a collection of your thoughts after you are gone.  Create a blog and write for the world at large to learn from you.  Record podcasts that share the lessons you have learned with others. If you want to build others, it is going to take time and effort but - more than anything else - it requires the right relationship with God.

Your responsibility to the next generation is to help them see the truth by hearing the truth; so, how well do you see and hear the truth daily?

On Memorial Day of this year, I finished reading a Keith Grint book entitled Leadership, Management, and Command: Rethinking D-Day.  This deep dive into every aspect possible of the D-Day invasion used the construct of tame and wicked problems to consider how each side prepared for and implemented their responses.  At times, the book was a slow-moving read but, in others, it was a fascinating page-turner.  One particular section grabbed my attention and is the topic of this blog.  How does tank doctrine and production have anything to do with leadership?  Well, read on and you will find out.  

An American tank gunner revealed the sentiments of many tank crews that fought in World War 2 - they had been deceived by their leadership.  They were repeatedly told that their Sherman tanks were every bit as good as anything the Germans could put in the field; however, as contact would prove, these statements were absolutely false.  The Sherman tank, from its very inception, was obsolete whenever it was produced.  Strangely enough, the Americans had a tank that could have matched the German Tiger or Panther tanks; however, it was not mass-produced.  An image of a tank - the M26 Pershing - is below.  As an aside, if you have not yet visited the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, I would highly encourage you to do so!

As Grint summarized on page 275 of his book, tank doctrine consisted of three main points:  (1) mobility, (2) firepower, and (3) protection.  The Allies, primarily the US as the production partner, focused on mobility.  The Sherman was to be lighter and faster than other tanks and, therein, is the problem.  American tank doctrine did not believe that tanks should (or would) engage each other in battle.  Instead, tanks should be used to zip through infantry lines and cause havoc behind them.  While a nice belief, the doctrine would fall apart in actual experience.

The Germans, on the other hand, invested heavily in firepower and protection.  That meant when the American Sherman tanks encountered any German armor, well, the battle was already over.  German guns could punch a hole through the Sherman without issue while the Sherman guns would be largely ineffective against Axis armor.  The desired mobility of the American armor was touted in design but disputed in action.  According to Grint, page 295, the Sherman tank could move at 26mph while the much heaving German tanks moved at 36mph (the Panther) and 23mph (the Tiger).  In other words, the ONE specialization that was "the American doctrine" was not good enough.  Designers would brag that the Sherman was the only tank that could fire on the move - but firing on the move was of little value when the shell would not phase the enemy.

I am not getting into the blame here - and there is plenty to go around including someone by the name of Patton - but the supposed doctrinal specialization created this "all in" approach even when confronted with facts and experience in North Africa.  For instance, the Sherman gun was designed to artillery specifications (e.g. number of shots fired before the barrel had to be replaced); yet, no Sherman would fire 5,000 rounds.  Whenever they faced German armor, the typical, American tank had a lifespan of fewer than 7 days.  German tank commanders could not understand why the Allies would send their men to fight in these inferior machines.  

So what?  What's the lesson for us in the modern day?  Well, I believe there are several.

(1) Unevaluated experience leads to unfulfilled potential - the Allies fought tank battles in North Africa from 1940 through 1943 offering first-hand experience of their armor's weakness and gun's ineffectiveness.  Instead of reconsidering their mobility doctrine and limited firepower well ahead of any invasion of Europe, they doubled down by trying to add a larger gun to the Sherman tanks.  Without getting too deep into the M26 Pershing story, the tank could have been mass-produced and available for widespread use at and beyond D-Day.  Political battles, bureaucracy, and lack of leadership halted Pershing's production until late in the war. 

• For you, as a leader, stop to really consider what is taking place and make the changes necessary to prevent disaster for your people.  Make sure you balance what you think with what you observe - others are depending on your solid analysis.  

(2) Siloed operation strangles opportunity - the Allies focused exclusively on mobility but balanced thinking would have created the change they needed.  The Pershing tank had armor, firepower, and speed similar to the German tanks but, for some reason, the commitment to mobility could not be overcome.  That knowledge still saw bureaucratic boards force the Pershing to go through a testing phase more stringent than the Sherman ever encountered.  

• Leaders need to make sure that broad approaches are considered and used for evaluation.  As stated above, experience helps frame what needs to be done in the present to aid in the future.  If you only "keep your head down," then you will never have the opportunity to see the opportunity ahead.

(3) Actions, not words, show true belief - here is where things really get odd.  The American professed belief in mobility should have been enough to cause them to jettison the Sherman tank.  Why?  As stated above, the Shermans could travel 26mph, which was significantly slower than one of the German tanks and only moderately faster than the other.  The Pershing, however, could move at 30mph - significantly faster than one and moderately slower than the other primary German tank.  In other words, the Pershing better matched the spoken mobility-focused BUT ALSO included heavier armor with better firepower.  The Allies could have remained committed to the mobility doctrine while also bolstering these other areas.  This decision should have been easy!  As an interesting aside in 1945, information reached the press about Sherman's ineffectiveness as soldiers were being directly quoted in the news.  The US Army's chief ordinance officer stated that no one needed to apologize for "any item" of the ordinance [including tanks] because American ingenuity caused us to lead the way in every aspect.  

• Leaders that believe in something - and I mean really, deeply believe - need to make sure their walk matches their talk.  If we only pay lip service to an idea or doctrine or principle, others will quickly spot the lack of integrity between our words and deeds.  They, in turn, will shrink at our "pious platitudes" and we will have inflicted damage to our credibility.  When you find that there is a mismatch between your sayings and your doings, pause.  Step back.  Look at both - really, truly, deeply evaluate them.  Then, decide which is the right way to go AND adjust the other so they match!!

For you and I, in our daily lives, we need to make sure we adopt the 3 principles of "tank doctrine" for success:

1. Mobility - FLEXIBILITY - sometimes, we need to shift.  The skill of leaders can be seen in knowing when to stay committed and when to make a change.  Never forget that every deliberate choice leads to a life you either accept or alter.

2. Firepower - EXECUTION - the best plan in the world matters little if it is not implemented well. The intention is the wish but the execution is the work.  

3. Protection - RESILIENCE - once you encounter struggle and setbacks, others will see who you really are.  If you stop where you are, then you cannot find future success.  Remember that difficulty exists for us to overcome it and not for it to overwhelm us.

If you have been following this series on Hebrew kings and the lessons they can teach us, you probably wonder why have skipped the next Hebrew king. Well, I call it an author's license! It makes perfect sense, in my opinion, to shift to him for some lessons to be learned and applied. Let's move forward and see what we can glean from his life that can help us improve our lives.

Before going any further, let me share with you what this entry is NOT - this is not a biopic that covers every aspect of his life.  Yes, Solomon inherited a peaceful kingdom and took the Israeli dynasty to its zenith.  At the same time, however, we must admit that he made terrible mistakes as a leader and the kingdom would split because of those defining moments.  Instead of offering a blow-by-blow examination of his errors, we will look at what started him down the path of wisdom and reflection.  Therein, we will find hidden treasures for us to adopt.

If you have any familiarity with Biblical history, you know that Solomon's origin is a suspect one.  His father, David, married his mother, Bathsheba, under awful circumstances - David, an already married man, shirked his duty to lead soldiers in battle, desired a woman he could not have, committed adultery with Bathsheba, got her pregnant, tried to cover his sin with trickery, and, ultimately, ordered the death of her husband by the hand of his commanding officer.  It was that union of these two individuals that produced Solomon as a son of the king.  

As he matured, Solomon was groomed to be king; yet, the transfer of the kingship was not smooth at all (see 1 Kings 1).  David, still alive but very old, faced a coup by one of his sons - Adonijah, the third oldest son of David.  Adonijah declared his intentions of becoming king and acquired a large group of followers (including chariots as the symbol of power).  To make his move public, he brings in some family members and court officials for a special sacrifice but, specifically, did not invite Solomon.  This maneuver appears to reveal an acknowledgment of his rebellion.

A prophet of God goes to Bathsheba to warn her and gets her to go to the king.  David, in the past, had proclaimed that Solomon would rule upon his death.  David acknowledged that oath and then acted to transfer the throne to him now in a special ceremony.  This public showing drove followers from Adonijah, who fled to the altar and begged for mercy.  With Solomon being king, it fell to him to decide what to do with his traitorous brother.  Solomon took an oath to permit his brother to live IF, and only if, Adonijah would live right; and the older brother agreed to do so.

David finally died (see 1 Kings 2) and the entire kingdom mourns the loss, while peacefully transferring loyalty to Solomon.  Shortly thereafter, Adonijah launches another plot to subvert the throne.  He, being the eldest brother, goes to Solomon's mother - not go to the king - and asks to marry David's concubine.  When Solomon finds out, he knows exactly what is taking place.  Granting the request would immediately give his older brother a claim to the throne; and as the account implies, Adonijah had the support of David's general and priest.  In other words, this was a much larger attempt to either split the kingdom or go to war with Solomon.  The new king faced a tough decision and ordered the exile or death of these men.

It is this background that leads us to 1 Kings 3 and why Solomon asked God for wisdom.  He could have asked for wealth and ease and long life, but he knew none of that mattered without the ability to "distinguish between right and wrong" through a "discerning heart" (1 Kings 3:9).  Solomon's immediate context was a rough experience and he pondered that time to figure out what was of true value for life and leadership.  Oh, that we would heed his example in our daily lives!  Instead of chasing money and possessions, we should pursue truth and wisdom with all of our being.

So what?  Why does this matter for you and I?

1. Prosperity is a poor purpose.  Solomon's request for wisdom instead of wealth reveals that we all have a purpose that is much deeper than things.  We will leave a legacy behind and we are the masters of that legacy.  Our daily choices and commitments are what determine how others will remember us.  If we only seek prosperity and convenience, then we will sacrifice character which, in turn, will subvert the memory that others have of us.  Look in the mirror, right now, and see what matters most for you; if that answer is not well-liked, then you can start to make those changes today.  

2. Only when you surrender the unimportant do you have a chance to succeed at the most important.  Solomon shows us this lesson as he offered forgiveness to his brother.  He could have dwelt upon the wrong of his older brother, which would lead to bitterness.  Instead, he resolved the matter (surrendering the unimportant) and moved on to other things (having a chance to succeed at the most important).  You and I need to evaluate everything - all the things that we do, what we choose to focus on, how we prioritize, etc. - and determine what is of the greatest value.  Investing energy in what matters is where we gain the greatest return.  

3. Pride prevents progress. Period.  This lesson is not so much from Solomon but from Adonijah as he could not humble himself before his younger brother.  Even though he was granted undeserved mercy AND made an oath, his pride led him to attempt another attempt at becoming king.  When we allow our hearts to be consumed by pride, we will soon see that our hands take actions motivated by that pride.  Solomon would later right in the book of Proverbs something that Adonijah needed to heed - "pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18)

4. The past can help in the present but it does not guarantee the future.  Solomon had several examples of kings to study and use to form decisions.  He could look to the past in the present BUT he also recognized that the past is not an accurate prediction of the future.  Rather than trusting in his pedigree as the son of the warrior king, he understood his decisions would shape his direction and that of his kingdom.  Knowing that to be the case, he sought God for wisdom and discernment.

In conclusion, be like Solomon.  Step back and think or reflect on your experience.  Evaluate your experiences and learn from them because that, my friends, is how you gain wisdom!

Far too often, people - self-included - give up doing the small things because they do not seem to matter.  That decision, however, is short-sighted but is rooted in our "results now" culture.  Whenever we start or attempt anything, we always need to keep a long-term mindset.  This blog shares an example of when a little becomes a lot AND I'll be celebrating a little bit of personal success too!  Keep on reading...

In looking at the image above, you see the name of this "notebook" and pay particular attention to the title - 52 Quotes a Year!  A friend of mine, knowing that I wanted to write a book, put a challenge on the table.  He said that a little bit of writing every day would matter.  I shrugged that off because all I could see was the mountain ahead of me.  Instead of seeing the big mountain, I should have focused on the small steps along the path that would add up over time.  The truth of the matter is this - a little becomes a lot when it is compounded over time.  Time is the factor that matters in this question BUT we tend to only look at the effort and results. 

So, what happened?  I made a choice to try and write one, original leadership quote (as much as any quote can be truly original) each week based on what happened, whether it was good, bad, or ugly.  That goal required an intentional use of time to reflect, learn, and journal.  I purchased a journal and then set aside at least 10 minutes each night to the journal.  If you think I have produced a journal entry every day since June 27, 2018, well, you're wrong.  I've missed a few days but rarely consecutive days missed.  The image above was the first quote that I produced and there's a story behind that quote - just not going to share it here.

Does one quote a week really matter?  YES!  Take a look below and notice the number.  In not quite 3 years, I hit the milestone of 200 original statements this week!!  When I saw that figure, I was amazed because the learning has stacked up over time.  If you intentionally focus on personal development, then you will be surprised how easily that vibrant growth will come.

​Making the daily time and sticking with it over a prolonged period will produce amazing results that you cannot forecast. What do I mean?  During this nearly 3 year timeframe, I authored a leadership book, co-wrote an educational book, and published an article in an international digest.  Had this deliberate process of reflection and personal learning not started, then I do not believe any of the written work would have occurred. 

My process was to create an Evernote account and download the app.  That way, I always had access to the full list and could add them as learning occurs anytime.  If I was stuck standing in line at the grocery store, those few moments could be used to reflect on the day and lead to a neat, little quote.  Even if a statement is similar to another one, I keep both b/c restatement of a similar concept in a different manner could be "the one" that makes it "stick" for someone.  I even have a few close friends that I'd send a quote in order to gain their feedback. Your colleagues can help shape these through their experience and can also debate whether what you said holds true.

Do not think you have to hold onto everything and never share. If you have learned, then you have the opportunity to add value to other people.  In my coaching sessions, I always leave them with at least 1 nugget of wisdom and often turn to these simple quotes to fit that bill.  

A little becomes a lot when you choose intentionality and then continue indefinitely!

• Hmm, that just might become quote number 201... 

If you have spent any time looking at leadership, you've heard comments that focus on what takes place when nobody is around because that is who you really are.  While that is true, I want to focus on that even further and apply it specifically to the home.  Please notice what the title does not say - "leadership in the home."  While that thought is a small part of it, there is a much bigger issue at play here that looks at both the people and environment in the home.  If you want to learn more, then keep reading...

The seeds of this thought came from a book called Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader.  The editors have collected a long list of authors who survey leadership from different books of the Bible (e.g. what Leviticus teaches about leadership - yes, you did read that right).  The discussion about the book of Judges caught my attention, of course, because of my book about Gideon.  The authors made a summary statement on page 93 that started my thinking:  "The book [Judges] demonstrates that Israel increasingly failed to follow God's leadership by failing to pass on the faith within their families."  Don't miss that - what you do intentionally or passively in the present shapes the future generationally.  As I continued to ponder, the thought below is where I landed, and I want to break that apart further:

"Your home shapes your leadership" - think of this from the perspective of a child.  The interactions they have with their parent(s) and their siblings truly shape how they view the world and others.  Far too often in the modern, western world, the primacy of the family has taken a deep dive as we abdicate learning to the school house or religious institution.  If we want to bring generational change, we do so through our children AND that happens best within the home. 

Now, this statement has both positive and negative connotations.  If a child has a positive home environment, they see a great example of things they could emulate as an adult.  If a child has a negative home environment, they may not know any difference and would act in what they perceive as normal.  Unless another adult teaches them to learn from those negative experiences, then they are more apt to repeat them in their own lives.  

"Just as much as" - these three words seem unimportant but they are absolutely vital to the quote.  They link the two major thoughts and show that both environment and people matter in proper instruction.  If a person is saying something positive while the environment has become negative due to their actions, well, the words fade away while the actions remain.  We - every person within a home - give to each person and the environment; so, we have to pause and examine the type of contributions we are offering. 

For instance, I have told my children to avoid saying certain words - like stupid.  Sometimes they listen, and sometimes they do not.  But, here's where the importance is - the eyes and ears of my little 2-year-old watch and listen to those siblings and then imitate them.  Language acquisition comes primarily from mimicking sounds; so, when they say "stupid" and we correct them, he repeats it because he does not understand.  By the older children's choice to ignore the language barriers, they have negatively contributed to themselves and the environment.  We have now started using the quote above as foundational in our corrective actions - if we have to address the 2-year-old for saying "stupid" (a word he learned from them), then they also receive a consequence (because they taught it to him).  Right or wrong, we are wanting them to understand how their words and deeds make deposits or withdrawals that positively or negatively affect the people and environment of the home.

"Your leadership shapes your home" - think of this from the perspective of the parent(s).  You cannot abdicate your role of leadership in the home.  Your children want your time and effort and love and attention - even correction!  If you neglect them by passive action, they will take active steps to find it elsewhere.  We, as adults, need to act like adults by intentionally teaching our children the things that we want them to do.  It is even more powerful, however, when we show them those things by implementing them in our own lives.  

If things are not going as well as we would like in the home, who is to blame?  You are!  A real leader accepts responsibility for outcomes with which they had influence.  If we are honest, it is easier to adopt the "other person is to blame" attitude; yet, that idea does not align with reality.  We contribute to the environment that we inhabit. We influence the people and the culture, so our own deposits (positive experiences) and withdrawals (negative experiences) must be owned.  Without accepting our part in the problem, we cannot make progress.

So, in conclusion, the home and leadership are interconnected and interrelated.  Is there something you need to change in either?  If so, then the next step is yours to make...

Have you ever selected a "word for the year"?  The intent behind that one word is simplicity and focus - it’s easier to remember than a long list of goals, helps you focus on priorities each day, and (in theory) will be more readily attainable.  Many people pick those words out of routine but fail in keeping them (just like New Year's Resolutions).  In this blog, we'll tackle some thoughts on your one-word while I share what mine will be for 2021.

If picking that one word is simple and helps you focus, then why do so many people fail in truly sticking to it throughout a full, calendar year?  Look at the title of this entry -- "my commitment for the year."  The failure starts by drifting from your purpose as your commitment fades.  It's so easy to select a word but it's so hard to commit to what it takes to keep that word.  Take a quick look at this quote from the book Defined by Moments and pause to reflect upon what it says to you.  

That statement hits me hard because it is easy to say but hard to do.  Let's be honest, losing your focus is common when the hard times hit; but keeping that focus despite the mess is uncommon.  Success requires that we transform the uncommon into common.  As the definition above says, we must be patient under stress in order to purposefully move towards success.  If you have selected a word, stop right now and look at the plan that you have written for that word.  Let's turn to my personal example...

"Fitness" is the word that I have chosen for 2021.  When you hear that term, the mind immediately goes to losing weight or getting in shape; however, my intent is much deeper.  Before digging into what I really mean, I had to embrace the effort that will require.  For instance, to gain physical fitness, I have to willingly choose to push myself and endure pain.  The soreness from lifting weights is a breakdown in the muscle so that they can repair themselves in a stronger fashion.  By saying "fitness," I am intentionally choosing pain and soreness - not the glamorous things we often envision by flippantly choosing a word for the year.

Specifically for me, here is my breakdown of the term "fitness" for the year 2021:

• Physical - as I hit my mid-40s and work from home, my metabolism is not what it used to be.  I have to intentionally build time to exercise while also forcing myself to get out of that chair during the day to move.  My Total Gym is right beside my desk to help facilitate that aspect.  Every 2 hours, I have an alarm that goes off where I need to get out of this chair and I'll do one exercise till muscle failure.  It gets me out of the chair during the day but does not replace my daily workout.

• Spiritual - my faith is important to me, so I have a daily reading plan for both morning and evening.  I am also working with accountability partners to ensure that my reading and reflecting on those passages actually happen.  I know they will call me out if I fail in that regard.

• Mental - better thinking leads to better believing and, together, they create better doing.  If I am taking care of my physical and spiritual self, then my thoughts will be better.  Changing my daily reflection time in the evening to focus on clarity of thought is the end result.  I have selected actions that I will do EVERY DAY and they become my journaling time.  I want to be a "mover" during 2021 and have chosen them for John Maxwell's "Rule of Five"

  1. M - meditate (I will read my Bible and pray every day)

  2. O - original (I will produce one item of material so I can share my learning with others)

  3. V - value (I will honor others by encouraging at least one person each day)

  4. E - estate (I will interact with my family in a way to build the right legacy for them)

  5. R - reflect (I will look back on the day and identify one lesson that I was to learn from everything that happened)

• Financial - I love impulse buys and this needs to stop as they add up over time.  My plan is to sit down with my wife at the end of each month and go through the credit card purchases I made.  In the past, I've just shared the totals but we need a deeper dive to ensure I only look at needs instead of lots of wants.  

• Familial - if I succeed at work but do not invest in my family, then I have lost what is most important.  After supper, my phone will be put away to ensure that my distractions are removed.  Technology is a great thing but also a convenient time-waster.  Why should I interact with people on social media across the country and ignore the folks under my own roof?  This area is one that I know I must improve.

• Social/Emotional - 2020 has been hard with all the isolation, even for an avowed introvert.  I need to intentionally connect with others because those times shape both of us.  Being together is a great way to become better together.

See how that word is not just a simple word?  Can you feel the commitment that comes along with this term?  Now, evaluate whether or not you have built that much effort around it.  If not, now is the time to stop everything and expend the effort to bolster your chances of success.  Constructing the commitment and daily disciplines significantly increase your opportunities for success.  

​Have you chosen your word or focus?  Do you have the commitment and discipline plan with it?  Now is the time...

I saw a meme the other day that made me laugh out loud. While not knowing who did this, we can all appreciate the sentiments behind the imagery.  Yes, 2020 - the year of "clear and great vision" - was a compilation of multiple messes that has left many people befuddled, frustrated, and outright anxious about what the future may hold.  Will 2021 be a repeat or an improvement?  Will things in 2021, as many are thinking, be even worse than the year just completed?  Honestly, nobody knows; however, we do hold the power of our lives in our hands.  Let's look at living life the 2021 way.

One of the books I received for Christmas was a compilation by Bentley and Toth called Exploring Wicked Problems: What They are and Why They are Important.  Now, don't make any assumptions about the title as this is not a religious book.  The authors expound on the difference between the two types of problems: tame (those you can solve) and wicked (those you cannot solve but only work to improve until you die or give up).  This delineation is fascinating BUT the real gold of this book is chapter 21 which names "the quintessential wicked problem" - living a good life (what I term the 2021 way).

Regardless of all the mess that may be flying in the world (political turmoil, social upheaval, financial ruin, spiritual nadir, emotional pain), you can still live a good life.  The immediate question that jumped into your mind is - "how?"  "How can I live a good life when everything is a mess?"  The answer is so simple - you just live it!!  Every day, you must choose to be present in whatever circumstances surround you.  You must choose to live every moment with the past wisdom that you have gleaned while seeking to gain new knowledge that can be applied later.  You must acknowledge and embrace the difficulty by understanding it is your duty to work through it.  If you quit, give up, surrender, or walk away, then you have ceased to live a good life.

The authors let philosopher John Kekes speak to the idea of living a good life.  He speaks of it as a personal and private function with this definition.  Living the good life "is an art because it requires individuals to make a lifelong creative effort that no one else can make for them, and for which no blueprint exists.  For a good life must be constructed out of one's character, circumstances, experiences, and ideals" (p 184).  Yes, 2020 was a mess; but that fact has no bearing on your future.  A good life is right before you, and your choice after reading this entry determines what happens next.  

If you are reading this, you are a unique individual.  You have unique talents and skills and passions.  Grab ahold of a passion of yours and explore it to the fullest.  Rather than trying to explain this in my own words, I will close with a quote from theologian Frederick Buechner's 1973 book Wishful Thinking:  "To find your mission in life is to discover the intersection between your heart's deep gladness and the world's deep hunger" (p 118).  

Your defining moments for the journey of a good life are just on the other side of what you do after reading this entry...

We stand at the cusp of closing one year and moving into a new one, and this time often produces reflection and goal setting.  Unfortunately, most of the "new year's resolutions" end in abysmal failure - some studies have indicated that as many as 80% of those resolutions fail and then claim that we should abandon any such practice.  Let's stop there.  Just because there has been a failure, does it mean that we should throw the "baby out with the bathwater"?  Should we really stop goal-setting or making resolutions?  I think not and will explain further below by looking at something that jumped off the page at me from Luke 21.

Luke 21 is a rather interesting chapter as it starts with Jesus observing the giving behavior in the Temple.  He sees the rich given from their abundance and, possibly, in a way that would gain their attention.  Sometimes, they would use the smallest coins possible to increase the sound and give off the appearance that they were providing a lot to God (e.g. think about putting a $10 bill in a church offering plate compared to dumping 1,000 pennies in it).

Jesus, however, focused on this widow - the poorest and most vulnerable of all society - as she gave all that she had.  After commenting, He offers a glimpse into the future as the Temple would be destroyed and started describing the "signs of those times."  He also mentioned that many of those hearing His words would face difficulty because they loved Him BUT that these times would give them an opportunity to speak of what Jesus means to them.

No, that is not the focus of this blog; yet, something He said near the end of the discourse is.  In Luke 21:34 (NASB), He says:  "Be on guard so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life."  What in the world does all of this mean?  Context matters as Jesus is offering them perspective and encouragement as commentary about the collapse of the Temple would have created a foreboding mood.  Before we comment and apply, let's look at some terms:
​

• Be on guard - the phrasing references alertness or awareness.  My oldest loves to jump out and scare his siblings so he has instilled in them a demeanor of always looking around for his presence.  They are preparing for what they believe is coming.

• Weighted down - the meaning is clear here in that you are carrying extra burdens.  Would a runner of any distance put on a backpack with 20 pounds in it to run that race?  No!  The same is true of us in that we need to remove additional burdens to stay light and fast.

• Dissipation - strange term but it literally means a hangover headache.  It is that state where you do not want a lot of noise and desire to be left alone because not everything is clear.  Simply put, you are experiencing the consequences of the night before.

• Drunkenness - a type of intoxicant that alters your state making you less serious (and, as such, not on guard).

• Worries - no explanation is needed here!

All of this is to point out a very simple fact - if it creates a burden, alters our focus, and leaves us with a hangover, then we need to avoid it.  The call here is for us to know what is most important (the immediately preceding verse speaks of the eternality of God's truth) and keep our focus right there.  The clarion call here to our hearts and minds is to determine the items of true value in life and devote our time, talent, and treasure to fostering that true value.  Anything else is a burden, an intoxicant, a distraction, or a worry.  

How does this apply to the end of one year and the start of the next?  Reflection on goals and our yearly accomplishments are good things for us to do.  I would challenge you, however, to look at what you gave compared to what you withheld.  Were you like the rich giving to appear generous or were you holding nothing back?  Did you have your focus and pride on something that will soon fade away?  Only you can answer those questions, but I urge you to heed the call of Jesus - examine your past year and see where you spent your time.  Was it on the right things?  When you answer "no" (and you will if you are honest), then what commitments do you need to make for the upcoming year? 

Free yourself by focusing on yourself.  Name what THE MOST IMPORTANT things are for you to do every, single day.  Commit to those for a full year and amazement will hit you on December 31!  Only when you surrender the unimportant do you have a chance to succeed in the most important.  William Borden was a millionaire and heir to his family's fortune, but he surrendered it all.  He wanted to go to the mission field but died in Egypt before he got there.  He wrote these words in his Bible - "No reserve. No retreat. No regrets."  Live your life each moment without distractions, without burdens, and without lost time.  You get one chance at life, so make it worthwhile.

Today, identify what you need to give up so that you can gain...

In seeing the title of this blog, you probably went to the often-quoted mantra of "aim small, miss small."  While that may be true, it is NOT the focus of this entry.  The critical component is reading the title is understanding the process.  We want results but fail in mapping out the steps to get to those results.  In other words, if you want to improve the quality of your accuracy, you have to improve the quality of your aim.  Keep reading to learn more...

If you read my prior blog on how "archery is life," then you understand how the struggle is real - what is "good enough" determines so much in your life and leadership.  I have taken specific steps to not accept "good" by striving for greatness in my archery.  The image to the left is but on part of that plan - the normal target that I shoot into has a central circle that is 5 inches in diameter.  In wanting to get better, I am forcing myself to narrow that focus by creating smaller targets.  The one I used today was a circle with a 3-inch diameter.  Why?  Well, "good enough" is when I get to a super-tight group on a consistent basis.  This photo provides clear evidence that more work is needed - yes, every arrow was within that smaller circle.  Yes, the last 3 shots were side-by-side (one is sandwiched between the existing arrows) but that pattern, overall, remains inconsistent.  If I accept these results, then I am falling back into the trap of "good enough." 

What did I do here to get everything in that smaller circle?  Did I change my technique?  Was I shooting different equipment?  No, the answer is surprisingly simple.  I forced clarity into my focus.  Rather than looking at that larger black circle as "success," I made my mind see the true goal - that smaller circle.  

We are guilty of the same thing in life as we coast, drift, and wander "toward" something.  We cannot see our dreams clearly meaning that we cannot see our goals clearly.  Until that clarity happens, we cannot intentionally act.  Do not think that you have to see everything right now because more clarity comes as you advance.  In ancient Hebrew culture, where darkness ruled after the sun had set, the lamps of the day provided just enough light for a person to take one or two steps.  After taking those one or two steps, guess what happened - they had enough light to take one or two more.  Do, right now, what you know to do in life until you start to focus on what really matters as other things fade.  

As the picture above shows, I have quit seeing the larger, black circle on that orange background.  When the bow is fully drawn and the arrow is ready to fly, I see 2 things - the pin I am using to aim and the white circle behind that pin.  My aim has improved and so has the accuracy.  Now, repetition drives consistency in behavior and, together, they will create a tighter pattern.  When the center of that larger circle is torn out, I will have to change my aim again for future improvement to occur.

You may be wondering what my next step in this archery focus will be, so I'll tell you - in January, the circle shrinks to 2 inches and I will use a different colored circle.  I am getting older and my eyes are not what they used to be, so I have to retrain those older eyes.  They must work with my mind to only "see" the minutiae prior to the shot.  When I see clearly, I can then release myself purposefully toward the goal.  Accuracy accords with your aim - the two are inseparable.  If you want better accuracy, you have to become better at seeing the small and important things.  

Have you stopped to ever think about the question mentioned above? If not, then pause - RIGHT NOW - and define that "f word" for yourself. Several years ago, I had a leader that sent me the image below. The image says fear has two meanings and we are the ones that personally choose our meaning of fear in our circumstances. Yes, can clearly see the emphasis on the terms above that place it all within our realm of responsibility. That personal nature is where we will focus on today's life and leadership blog.

Before we go any further, take 4 minutes to watch this video where Will Smith talks about his experience of skydiving.  There's humor, honesty, and hope shared within it:  What Skydiving Taught Me about Fear

Did you catch these powerful quotes he offered?

• "The point of maximum danger is the point of minimum fear." 

• "What did you need that fear for?"

• "God placed the best things of life on the other side of fear."

The one that hit me hard was the 2nd bullet as he asked a question (and left it unanswered).  I do not know his intent there, but I think it was intentional to force each of us to answer the question.  What do we need to fear for? At its most natural element, fear is a survival instinct that, when triggered, produces a fight or flight reaction.  For us, however, we far too often use it for other purposes.  We use fear to keep us comfortable by excusing away things that may be difficult.  If you doubt that statement, answer this question - why do you put off difficult conversations?  Yep, fear and discomfort!  

There is an ancient Hebrew proverb that says this:  "the eye is the lamp of the body."  In other words, what we focus on regularly will create specific follow-through later.  What we "see" in our minds and what we think about determines actions and outcomes.  Right here, this point is where the question about fear becomes vital for our lives.  If we primarily "see" fear, we will shape our actions accordingly.  Instead, we need to acknowledge the presence of fear BUT no longer use it as a lens through which we "see."  As Will Smith alluded to, we have to see past the fear by focusing on the bliss that is merely beyond it.  Fear, when left unchecked, gets us to forget that joy that life affords to us - if we would only choose it. 

Here is a personal example: while in graduate school for the first time, I spent a year getting to know a young lady.  She and I corresponded regularly and I really wanted to date her.  My problem was FEAR!  As an avowed introvert who never had many girlfriends and was just considered an "average guy," all I could see were reasons why she would have no interest in me.  While out of state and working at a camp during the summer, I wrote her a letter asking about her interest in dating me.  I put that letter in the mailbox and would then take it out only to put it back in and then take it out.  A colleague working at the same camp took the letter and drove it to the post office to remove this burden from me.  She said yes!  We dated for several years and have been married for almost 20 years.  I focused on the rejection that was possible instead of the reward on the other side of the risk.

As you think about your life and leadership, are you running or are you rising?  Has fear captured your attention or has faith changed your action?  Are you seeing the present worry or the possible win?  Have you chosen to passively exist or purposefully endeavor?    Your outlook, as the Hebrew proverb states, determines your outcomes.  

Live like you want to lead...

If you read the first of this new series, then you notice the title is a bit different.  You are right because I want to check your historical and Biblical knowledge.  Answer this simple question:  who was the second king of Israel?  I know you just answered in your mind, then looked at the title and thought something like this - "Well, I'm not gonna waste my time here.  This author is a way off base because there is no way that David was just a figurehead."  I would encourage you to read on because all is not as it seems.  A definitive lesson or two can be clearly seen from the second king as he faced challenges stemming from Saul - the Initiator.

If you answered "David" to the question above regarding the second king of Israel, then you are WRONG.  For full disclosure, I had completely forgotten about this second king; so, let's learn a little bit about him.  Ishbosheth, the sole surviving son of Saul, was named the second king of Israel.  Why he was not killed in battles like his father and brothers is not clear, and I am not going to draw any conclusions from the lack of information.  What we do know is from 2 Samuel 2, 3, and 4 - upon Saul's death, Abner, who was Saul's military commander, placed him on the throne as the king. 

He reigned for two years and, truthfully, was merely a figurehead.  Abner was the true source of power and, according to 2 Samuel 3:6, had made himself strong in the house of Saul.  He was Ishbosheth's general who led Israel in a state of constant civil war as David had been installed as king of Judah.  If you continue to read the historical record, you will see that Abner is perturbed at an accusation levied against him by the king and reacted in a way that produced fear in Ishbosheth.  He promised that he would ensure that David became king of a united Israel and then took steps to make it happen.  Had Saul's son possessed strength, he would have immediately put an end to this insurrection; however, this example clearly demonstrates the weakness of a figurehead leader.

Abner does exactly as he said, but David's general, in what I believe was a fit of jealousy, has Abner killed.  When word gets back to Ishbosheth, 2 Samuel 4:1 records that "his courage failed him" - he, literally, lost heart because his life of royalty and ease was coming to an end.  Two scoundrels slipped into Ishbosheth's chambers while he slept and murdered him.  Barely escaping with their lives, they went to David and told him what they did (thinking this would ingratiate them to him).  David, in anger, punishes them as wicked men for killing a righteous man in his own home.  

While this is a great story, filled with intrigue, that could be made into a movie, there are tremendous lessons here that we would do well to follow.  Simply put, never become a figurehead leader!  

1. Leadership determines trajectory - 2 Samuel 3:1 talks about the war between David and Ishbosheth but closes with this statement:  "And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker."  What was the difference?  leadership.  David was battle-hardened and purpose-filled while Ishbosheth was untested and uninspiring.  If you want to improve your organization, get or grow better leaders.  If you want to improve yourself, spend time around better leaders.  Leadership makes a difference!

2. If you want to "live like a king," then you better "lead like one" - Obviously, we are not really going to get to live as a king, but bear with me on this statement.  Ishbosheth wanted the perks of being a king - wealth, command, ease - but he did not act like a king.  The day that he was murdered, he was napping in the middle of the day.  Does that sound like a strong leader who has been mired in a civil war for two years and his greatest general has just been killed by the "enemy"?  Of course not!  He was in the position for what he could gain not what he could give.  Unfortunately, many people have the perception that leaders have it easy; and that belief reveals a fatal misunderstanding of leadership.  When you attain that position, you also get the headaches and responsibility and accountability and uncertainty and criticism that come with it.

Figurehead leaders do not believe that leadership matters because they are there just for the benefits.  If you want to make a difference for others, then you cannot be a mere figurehead.  How can you tell?  There's an old adage that you would need to test yourself against -- "if your absence doesn't affect them, then your presence never mattered."  Israel, immediately upon the death of Ishbosheth, went to David and acknowledge his great leadership in the past and present.  In other words, Ishbosheth, as a leader, did not really matter.  

Resist the figurehead fallacy and lead like you want your legacy to be...

This weekend, I missed a shot that should be automatic.  Yes, I admit my perfectionistic tendencies and how those are not always beneficial. This one, however, bothered me as in I lost sleep over it.  After getting the youngest down for his nap the next day, I went to my normal "thinking place" - for those that do not know me that means I was shooting my bow - and then I had "a moment."  Once again, archery taught me a lesson about life.

I was shooting all over the place.  It had nothing to do with my equipment (Hoyt bow or Victory arrows or Walk on Archery target) but everything to do with me and my mind and my choices.  It's never easy to accept blame but the irrefutable evidence was right in front of me.

Without getting too technical, I was allowing my aim to drift.  Instead of drawing my bow and placing the appropriate pin where the arrow needed to fly,  I hovered the pin below the target and then lifted up at the last second before releasing the arrow.  That slight upward movement is transferred to the arrow meaning it is already starting off target (flying more off target the further it traveled).  I know better.  This decision is awful and is guaranteed to miss unless a miracle occurs.  This simple change is a fundamental technique and can be easily addressed but the habit takes time to reform.

As I continue to fling arrows, the picture you see to the left happened.  2 arrows into an empty water bottle at 30 yards is not half bad.  But, therein is the greatest problem - "good enough."  The technique mentioned above was symptomatic of the greater problem:  mental laziness allowing me to settle for less than the best.  Granted, I am not a world-class archer, but I am better than a 3-inch spread at 30 yards.  I chose to accept less than the best because my goal had changed - instead of hitting a bulls-eye, my goal had become anywhere inside a 6-inch ring during hunting season.

​Standing there with my bow in my hand, I could not believe that this "acceptance of average" had crept into my archery world.  Again, I knew better but, somehow, had become less intentional.  Part of it may be due to my elbow inflammation that has cut into my practice time; however, that is simply an excuse.  If anything, the lack of repetition should have forced greater focus and intentionality during my archery sessions.  Now, I am going to re-examine several other aspects of my life to see if that laziness has appeared in those as well.  

To help fight this inclination to average with archery, I asked my oldest to come outside with me.  I had him "call the shot" by telling me what part of the water bottle to hit.  It gave me a partner.  It forced my focus.  It kept me accountable.  It also improved my results!  Take a look at the picture down at the very bottom.  This grouping is MUCH tighter but I still did not hit the blue circle - came super close with that lower arrow.  Improvement is still needed but my progress is heading in the right direction. 

In life, particularly during this time of the pandemic, we need to learn from my archery foibles.  Make sure you regularly connect with someone to help you focus on the most important things.  Check your attitude to see if you have avoided slipping into the "that's good enough trap."  Examine your results regularly and judge whether or not you are hitting your intended target.  Adapt your practices, based upon the information you have received, to change as needed.  Find a partner who will help you set the goal and then hold you accountable to it.

In life and in leadership, "good enough" is never good enough.

In Matthew 20, Jesus sheds significant light on the topic of leadership, authority, and greatness as He offers an amazing contrast between what people perceive and what actually is.  Far too often, this passage is quoted without the all-important context that is vital for understanding.  He concludes a grand discourse that has presented several parables and, most recently, announced to His disciples that He would die at the hands of the Jewish and Gentile leaders.  At the end of this teaching, a mother approaches Jesus to ask for her sons to have preferential treatment in His kingdom.  She was exhibiting faith that He was the promised Messiah but also betraying a misunderstanding of the Messiah.  Needless to say, the other ten were not happy and then we hear leadership gold from Jesus!

With the mother of the boys of Zebedee asking for positions of power in the coming kingdom, Jesus clarifies a few things:  (1) those places were not His to give, (2) the kingdom is not what they think it is, and (3) there is followership that they would not yet understand (e.g. to the death).  The grumbling of the ten toward the two is the immediate context of these counter-cultural, and do not miss that fact!  The ten were upset and, as we will see, Jesus, by implication, would expose their hearts too.  They were angry not because they were humble but because they wanted those positions for themselves.  All twelve were seeking authority and power instead of truth in leadership.

With the mother of the boys of Zebedee asking for positions of power in the coming kingdom, Jesus clarifies a few things:  (1) those places were not His to give, (2) the kingdom is not what they think it is, and (3) there is followership that they would not yet understand (e.g. to the death).  The grumbling of the ten toward the two is the immediate context of these counter-cultural, and do not miss that fact!  The ten were upset and, as we will see, Jesus, by implication, would expose their hearts too.  They were angry not because they were humble but because they wanted those positions for themselves.  All twelve were seeking authority and power instead of truth in leadership.

In bringing everyone together, Jesus starts by presenting the wrong view of position and authority.  In the ESV, we see the word "over" used twice in verse 25 to reference how the Gentile nations defined leadership or authority by example.  This English translation comes from the Greek preposition kata which adjoins other verbs to form our meaning.  Thus according to worldly wisdom and practice, authority flows downward from one station to those beneath it.  The imagery is one of command and power that could not be questioned indicating the ruthlessness of those holding power and authority.  Moving beyond the simple preposition, we dig into the action verbs that unveil the wrong kind of leadership or authority for followers of Christ. 
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1. "Lord it over" - karieou - speaks to overpowering, dictation, or mastery.  In a sense, it literally means to exercise total rights over one's own property. 

2. "Exercise authority over" - exousiazo - refers to pushing down or dominance in that authority is only top down.   

In contrast to this model, Jesus rebuked all the disciples for wanting a position of authority or leadership - "it shall not be so among you."  He saw into their hearts and needed to boldly address them.  He, in a sense, told them to forget all that they believed they knew so that He could deposit truth to them.  Jesus had to correct their thinking and understanding in order to shape their actions.  As we say all the time here at Defined by Moments, "how you live is how you lead," and Jesus was teaching that right here!  He wanted their hearts and lives so that He could change their habits and leadership.  

In our English translations (verse 26 and 28), we see variations of the word serve that come from variations of the same Greek word.  That term is where we gain our English word for "deacon" meaning waiter, administrator, servant, or someone actively on the move.  What a contrast we see here because the prior terms (referencing Gentile leadership or authority) come from a passive aspect - you, in accordance with your elevated position, recline while others do based on their lower status.  Jesus is teaching that those seeking greatness or authority or being first must serve others.  It is about empowering them rather than protecting power for yourself.

If that was not appalling enough, He goes even lower in verse 27 by no longer speaking of a servant but an outright slave.  The Greek term - doulos - evokes tough images of those who no longer have rights but are completely bound to someone else.  They do not have freedom but must follow the will of someone else.  The disciples would have been aghast and confused as they wanted posh positions like the Roman and Jewish leaders - not this stifling servitude that Jesus described.  Sensing this internal struggle, Jesus did not stop there but reiterated prior teaching - as the Son of Man, He was about to give His life (active service) as a ransom for many (adopting the will of His Father).  

To conclude here, Jesus redefined leadership, authority, and positions.  As a challenge to the common norms, He would agree that these terms are much more appropriate:  humility, service, others-oriented, sacrifice, and legacy.  Want proof?  Consider the volume of writings that we have about Jesus Christ (who lived the latter definition) with that of Pontius Pilate (who lived the former definition).  There is no comparison!!  Very little is known historically of the Roman prefect outside of the Bible while libraries are filled with works about Jesus.

If the proof above is not sufficient for you, notice how the chapter ends.  Immediately following this private teaching, Jesus offers a public example of what He intended.  With a large crowd following Him to Jerusalem, two blind men cry out to Him for healing.  The people around them are perturbed that they would not hush and leave Him for more important things.  Jesus, instead, pauses and asks them what they want.  Without hesitation, they ask for their sight, and Jesus moved with compassion, heals them.  His humility, service, others-orientation, and sacrifice are what comprise His legacy for us.  We should never become so busy or focused on a task that we lose our compassion for the needs of others.  If we lose that compassion, then we become the positional authorities that Jesus taught us to avoid.

Our world needs more leaders who live like Jesus described.  Are you willing to be one of them?

Saul, the first Hebrew king, offers us an example that cannot be overlooked - particularly for those that are business starters or hold a newly created leadership position.  He made decisions that are typical of an "initiator" and we would do well to learn from his example to save us from expensive AND extensive difficulty.  To unpack his life and leadership, we will go to the book of 1 Samuel for a summary explanation of his life and decisions.  Please note that we cannot cover the majority of one Old Testament book in a short blog, so this will only hit the highlights.  We will close with five specific applications of those lessons for leaders.

​As a reminder for this series, we will not be considering his background or upbringing, or training but will solely focus on his time as the king of Israel.  This decision helps isolate his defining moments as a leader regardless of the rich or poor leadership development that he went through.

Explanation
Saul starts off well in 1 Samuel 10-11 where he is named king and then gets to work.  As he is announced as the chosen one to be king, people bring him gifts; however, a group of people immediately disrespect him without a gift but with grumbling.  Saul ignores the disrespect to himself but cannot ignore the disrespect of an Ammonite to a Hebrew town.  After the victory, those fighting by his side want to go kill those who refused to bring him a gift but Saul does not want to take action.  He wanted to build unity instead of creating further division - something an initiator will do.

Saul then has to deal with his first challenge as the Philistines, the ever-present enemy of Israel, rise up to cause problems.  Saul organizes an army, including is son Jonathan, and awaits the prophet, Samuel.  While waiting, many of the soldiers are overcome with fear and decide to leave.  Saul, in seeing people leaving, decides to take action to keep everyone together - he offers sacrifices (something he should never do as it violates his purpose).  No sooner had he finished the act, than Samuel appears and asks what he has done and declared he acted foolishly (1 Samuel 13:11, 13).  Unfortunately, these disobedient actions by Saul would not be an isolated incident (see 1 Samuel 15). 

The war with the Philistines created accolades for the one chosen to follow Saul as David killed Goliath.  This amazing victory gained favor with others and causes significant jealousy on the part of Saul.  This envy arose in 1 Samuel 18:7 as we see both Saul and David returning from a successful campaign against the Hebrew enemies.  The common song of celebration said:  "Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands."  Saul, as the initiator and 1st king, had to be the best and, from this point forward, he viewed David as a threat.  He acted in foolish ways to remove David as a threat:  (1) trying to kill him with a spear several times, (2) attempting to have the Philistines kill him through a stealthy wager that failed, (3) chasing him across the kingdom to trap him, (4) killing several priests for a supposed disrespect to him, and (5) cursing his own son Jonathan and threw a spear at him for supporting David.

Finally, we see Saul's failure to admit his mistakes and then act accordingly to change.  When he disobeyed God in 1 Samuel 15, he lied to Samuel; and when caught in the lie, blamed the people for the disobedience.  He was the leader and could have restrained them but, as the initiator, he did not want to make the tough call.  Later, in 1 Samuel 24, David could have killed Saul but did not.  After finding out how David acted righteously, Saul admitted his mistakes in pursuing David and knew that he would be kind to Israel; however, he would later continue to chase David in jealousy to kill him.

Ultimately, Saul's rash actions and disobedience removed any opportunity for a royal dynasty for his sons.  As the initiator, he established an awful example of what a king/leader could and should be.  Yes, he started the line of Hebraic kings but he did not start them well.

Application
Leaders that are initiators (e.g. starting a new organization) would do well to learn from the example of Saul.  Specifically, we can learn several lessons from this failed leader of Israel.

1. Losing your purpose leads to losing your position - Saul forgot that he was commissioned as king to do two things:  fear and follow the Lord (1 Samuel 12:14).  These two simple steps would keep Saul focused on his task of serving the people as God wanted instead of driving the people to do what he desired.  He lost his purpose and started acting to protect himself, which caused him to be removed as king.

2. Mistakes can show the right way ahead while error always shows the wrong way behind - Saul made few mistakes but many errors.  A mistake is learning how not to do something while an error is refusing to learn from previous mistakes.  In chasing David, Saul's life was spared and he admitted that David acted correctly (by implication meaning that Saul was acting incorrectly); yet, he never changed.  He became fixated on staying on the wrong course, which revealed a past of compounded errors.  

3. Jealousy and envy offer false allurement for success - these two twins guide you to certain decisions that you believe will lead to success; however, they are actually hastening your leadership voyage to shipwreck.  Saul, hearing the people speak so well of David, did not pause to consider his own character flaws.  Instead, he focused on the other person and decided to rid the world of him.  Saul failed to see that his jealousy and envy were creating a greater divide between him and the people as they could see the stark differences between the two men.

4. The initiator's danger is the protection of the organization rather than improving their personal character - Saul wanted to create a strong, powerful kingdom that could be passed down to his children.  In many of his actions, he acquiesced to the people on important decisions rather than doing the right thing despite the difficulty.  Leaders must have the courage to stick to the purpose and what is right through conflict.  The other choice is to coast with a fake unity that leads nowhere.

5. If your relationship with God is not right, then your relationship with others cannot be right - had Saul feared the Lord and followed him completely, these issues would never have occurred.  Instead, he would lose the kingdom to a man described as "after God's heart."  If your relationships are not going well in your life or leadership, then step back and consider the strength of your relationship with God.  It is only by receiving His grace that you can give it to others.

This blog entry will start a new series (The Mess of the Monarchy) and a new category (Hebrew Kings).  For the longest time, I struggled with Hebrew history with a particular focus on the mess that men made of the monarchy.  In my quest to analyze and figured that out, I stumbled upon the work of J. Robert Clinton and his conclusions from studying hundreds of Biblical leaders (should you want to learn more, see his article "Listen Up, Leaders!").

Still, that article did not dig deep enough into the specifics of the Hebrew kings and how they varied greatly.  Yes, I recognize that some served God and others did not, but why?  That question is the heart of my pursuit going forward so that I can learn to leave the right legacy behind.  First, here are a few foundational thoughts.

​My question of "why" focuses on a particular passage of the Deuteronomic code which predates the Hebrew monarchy - turn to Deuteronomy 17:14-20.  God revealed that the hearts of Israel would turn away from Him and demand a king to be like all the nations around them.  In his all-knowing nature, He deposited mandates to be followed:

1. The king must be chosen by God.

2. The king is to be a Hebrew, not a foreigner.

3. The king cannot have people return to Egypt.

4. The king should not accumulate horses, precious metals, or wives as they will turn his dependence away from God onto other things.  

5. The king, himself, shall write a book in the presence of the priests.

That last one really got my attention as God set a rule for the rulers!  Deuteronomy 17:18-19, specifically state, "he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.  It shall be with him and she shall read it all the days of his life."  This man, who was about to become king, wrote his own book so that he would fear the Lord, obey God's commandments, act in humility, and leave an enduring legacy.   That expectation is some pretty impressive leadership training that reveals for us the source of true wisdom in leadership - fearing God!  Modern-day leaders would do well to heed that foundation by keeping God's Word close to their hearts so that it saturates our thinking, believing, and doing.

While the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles do not depict that every leader followed through with this expectation, let's assume that they did.  If they took the time to copy the words, then they would have been forced to reckon with passages that they would eventually disobey.  Why?  What occurred in their reign that led to them making a mess of the monarchy?  It is in those details that we can discover some powerful, leadership truths for our time.  My focus will solely rest on the kingdom itself and the point in time that the individual became king through the end of his reign.  By not considering any leadership preparation or personal pedigree, I want to "level the playing field" so to speak.  The goal is to look for the factors exhibited as a leader while facing burdens and responsibilities and competing interests. 

In looking back at this passage in the Torah, one possible clue about the Hebrew kings exists, and please note this is just a simple hypothesis that will either be proven or disproven in the continued study.  Deuteronomy 17:20 indicates that fearing God and observing the law was instituted so "that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen."  The implication is that leadership drifting starts with the emergence of pride and ends with the purpose being forgotten.  The king was to act on behalf of his people for their own good rather than enriching himself at their expense.  With purpose gone, prosperity is the game.  Instead of serving others (purpose), the king would only serve himself (prosperity).  Does this not have a direct correlation to leadership in our modern time?

As I close, let me make one statement that I firmly believe: if your relationship with God is not right, then your relationship with others cannot be right.  I think we will see that demonstrated multiple times throughout this series.

If you know anything about me, you know that I am an avid archer.  An abundance of life (and leadership) lessons exist within archery, so I am starting a new category to focus on those lessons.  Take a look at the image below - it teaches us that connection IS direction.  If you want to learn more, then keep reading below as we will talk about the 4 parts of the image and get into the specifics of the lesson that we can learn.

Before we go any further, let's define a few archery terms here.

• #1 is the bow string that is looped through the cams and, when pulled, produces significant tension on the limbs.  When that tension is released, it is transferred to the arrow giving it flight.

• #2 is called the "d-loop." This piece of string is where you attach your release, use your strength to draw the bow (creating the limb tension mentioned above), and then release the tension to propel the arrow forward.

• #3 is the nock.  This small component is what attaches the arrow to the bowstring.

• #4 is the arrow.

We need to focus on number 3 - the nock.  As the definition above says, it is small but highly valuable.  Without the nock, the arrow does not attach to the bowstring and cannot receive power, direction, or forward progress - it simply would sit still.  Therefore, the connection IS the direction.  

​We need to go a little further in understanding the nock.  Take a quick look at the image provided below.  This shows you what the nock looks like and how it is attached to the bowstring. That u-shaped valley is where the string fits BUT it cannot be a shallow connection.  I had a friend who had coyotes ravaging his herd and was hunting with his bow when one appeared.  He drew his bow to let that arrow fly but the arrow came off the string. Why?  It was not seated deeply on the nock.

Life and leadership require us to have connections with others.  If we only seek shallow connections that lack depth, then we will never be able to serve others by influencing their power, progress, or path. 

Before we close, let me inject some humility right here.  We like to think that we are the "bow string" providing power, progress, and pathways for others; however, that should not always be the case.  We have to grow too which requires us to have connections with people who can and will give us power, progress, and a path.  In order to willingly develop others, you must willingly be developed.  Your attachment matters for both your present and your future.  

Connection is direction, so wisely choose those connections!

With everything that took place during the pandemic shutdowns where businesses were closed and gatherings minimized, our deepest human desire - for personal connection - was starved.  Unfortunately, however, that occurrence is not an isolated incident.  The starving for a personal touch has expanded in recent years due to our increased reliance on digital tools.  We focus attention on "friends" we have never met but are hundreds of miles away while neglecting those within the walls of our home.  How do we as people, and as leaders, address that deficiency?  We will take a look at what some have done in the fast-food industry to combat this factor.

Now, before we go any further, let's have a little fun.  Take the time to answer these questions yourself and even poll others!  The questions and answers come from an interesting Forbes article back in 2019.

1. What fast-food restaurant has the largest sales volume each year?

2. What fast-food restaurant has the fastest drive-thru?

3. What fast-food restaurant has the highest order accuracy?

4. What fast-food restaurant is considered the friendliest of all?

5. What fast-food restaurant has the slowest drive-thru?

Now that you've debated and offered your guesses, here's the answer sheet:  (1) McDonalds, (2) Dunkin Donuts, (3) Chick-fil-a, (4) Chick-fil-a, and (5) Chick-fil-a.  Yes, you read that right: Chick-fil-a has the slowest drive-thru in the industry!!  Oh, by the way, 60% of their revenue (prior to the covid-19 pandemic) was generated by the drive-thru.  You see, Chick-fil-a has the highest drive-thru volume of all fast-food restaurants in that they have 6 or more cars in the drive-thru line 35% of the time (the 2nd highest figure is McDonalds at only 9%).

Even by being closed on Sunday AND having the slowest drive-thru in the industry, this restaurant chain is commanding a large market share.  How?  Simply put, they have mastered the personal touch and it pervades everything that they do.  

Consider just a few things that Chick-fil-a does to add a personal touch to those long drive-thru lines and, in doing so, they make quality feel quick.  By the way, you will see many of these have been adopted by other fast food chains because they understand what Chick-fil-a has figured out:

• Face-to-face ordering - instead of speaking into that microphone where misunderstandings can occur, they come to your car and take that order.

• Read back - rather than you having to read the order on a screen, they read it back to you for confirmation.  Again, it is a person-to-person interaction rather than using digital tools.

• Doors, not windows - instead of leaning out the car window to get your food through the tiny drive-thru window, many of them have been replaced by doors.  They can bring the food to your car for a more personal interaction that sets up the last one below.

• The catchphrase - how do employees at Chick-fil-a respond to a thank you?  They simply say... "it's my pleasure."  You get to eat that spicy chicken sandwich with a smile because you come to believe they meant what they said.

So what?  How can this teach us anything about the importance of a personal touch?  From my reflection on what I read, I walked away with these lessons.  

1. A quality experience is worth the wait.

2. The customer is not always right but it is not my place to make sure they know they are wrong.

3. The difficulty exists for us to overcome it rather than allowing it to overwhelm us.

4. The unknown is not an excuse for diminished quality.  For numbers 3 and 4, let's explain just a bit.  The pandemic could create a sense of complacency in that no dine-in customers naturally increase the drive-thru traffic BUT we'll just run it the way we always have.  That response misses a complete opportunity at overhauling an experience with an extra personal touch.  On October 26, 2020, an NC Chick-fil-a set the record for most cars served in an hour by serving 474 cars!!!  Did they have to do things differently?  Yes!  Did they get rid of excuses?  Yes!  Did they make a lot of people happy?  Yes!

If you want results in your life and leadership, then you have to figure out how to make those personal touches in an increasingly disconnected world.  When you do that well, others will notice and turn to you for solutions.

As you look at the photo below, what do you see?  You may have responded something like this:  blue sky, golf course, ball on the green, trees, flagstick, clouds, etc.  There really is not a right or wrong answer here BUT take a look at where the ball is located.  It is close to the flag, and that's good, but you do not know several things:  (1) how many strokes it took to get there; (2) how many are considered "par" for that hole; and (3) what happens after this picture was taken.  All of these descriptions are wonderful set-ups for accountability - the real kind of accountability that we need in our daily lives.  The term and process called "accountability" is often viewed with disdain; however, that should not be the case.  We need to learn to do accountability correctly to maximize relationships and results.

Why has accountability become viewed in such a negative manner?  The simple answer is that we avoid the conversations that we should have when issues are small; and when those issues become larger, the discussions become much more difficult.  If we would focus on the most important and have regular conversations about those topics, then accountability becomes normal (and easier) rather than abnormal (and harder).

​How easy can accountability be?  Take a look at these simple questions that can help you hold yourself (and others) accountable to any agreed-upon commitments:

• What commitment did you make?

• Did you keep that commitment?

  • If not, why not?

  • If yes, could it have been stronger?

• Knowing what you do now, how will you act differently in the future?

Are those questions threatening?  No!  The key is that you let everyone know - upfront - that you will be regularly assessing yourself with these questions before you pose them to others.  Once you have notified others, then you need to live up to the expectation that you set.  If you say it and then do it, accountability becomes acceptable, not awkward.  If you want accountability within your organization, you make that happen by living it and then leading it.  

These thoughts originated from my time working with teens at our church.  I asked them to make ONE commitment to grow in wisdom that would be implemented for 7 CONSECUTIVE days.  I let them know that I would be following up (removing the threat and awkwardness) to see how they did.  Guess what?  The appointed day came and I missed holding them accountable b/c we did not have a church that night.  I did, however, call every one of them and asked the questions above.  Was it uncomfortable for them?  Probably because we live in a culture where being held accountable is unusual.  Will it benefit them in the long run?  Absolutely!  

In summary, if it is important enough to commit to accomplishing, then it is important enough to check up with accountability.  Be sure to tell people you are going to hold accountable, how you are going to do it when it will occur, and then follow through.  If you do that regularly, accountability becomes a tool for honoring momentum rather than a tool that hammers mistakes.